Hey! bestknight32 here! surprise! The March chapter is here! srry for the delay. i hope this chapter makes up for the fact that there wont be a chapter for April or may im srry! another gacha event has my attention right now! i promise ill be back after its over at least. Also thanks again dahliingg from that deviant place for making the story your the best! One last thing one character in this chapter one character might be OOC and all i can say is i did mention this story is going to be a bit experimental alright thats all until next time! " Reader there is one thing bestknight32 hasnt told you! Its that I am your NEXT CHAPTER!".
To say that they were headed home was less of a final destination and more of a hope; the more they ventured through the city the more they realized the full scale of the Infected attacks and how coordinated they truly were. The Doctor had little comparison to the events of the past, but from what Melantha had said it was unlike anything they had ever attempted before. It had chilling consequences and dire implications but they could do nothing substantial until they returned back to Rhodes Island.
Although their hearts were in the right place, and they knew that they were only there to help, the Ursus government didn't see them any differently than they did the Infected.
They had broken out into smaller groups as to not attract attention, hoping that if they were to spread out and take different routes to Rhodes Island that there would be less chance of being detected; between the Infected and the Ursus government both sides would not have hesitated to attack them without provocation.
The Doctor was situated safely between Melantha and Amiya, both women obviously alert from the way that their ears twitched at the smallest of sounds, and although he knew he was safe he was still irritated that he was being treated like a child. The Doctor didn't want to give a voice to this feeling, for fear of seeming petulant, but even in his current state he knew he had more worth than precious cargo. At least he could maintain a certain amount of pride from the fact that he carried the burden of a people, all of his work and process were locked away in his mind, and the sooner that he was able to regain his memories the sooner he would be able to continue his work.
It was clear that conflict was bubbling over and spilling out onto the streets, the same streets that they were currently navigating through with extreme caution - The Doctor would not say that he was a philanthropist but innocent lives were at risk.
"Shhh!"
Amiya's hushed whisper silenced the group, her frantic look caused them to huddle deep into a nearby alleyway, and they all crouched in silence as they heard several footsteps approach loudly and with prejudice.
"Where are those Chernos?"
The voice was brutish and violent, muffled by what sounded like a mask although The Doctor could not be sure without looking. They all huddled closer together as The Doctor and Amiya shared a look, one that said so much more in the frame a few seconds than words would be able to convey, and what he saw behind her gaze was apprehension … and fear. It was the first time that he had seen it on her face, the idea that she was not as strong as she had portrayed, and The Doctor felt a tinge in his chest like he wanted to make sure she never felt that way ever again.
Given their current company, and how close they were to being discovered, that sentiment would need to wait.
Reunion members could be heard shuffling back and forth, hastily searching for something or someone, and they were close enough that the smallest shuffle would cause alarm. The Doctor cursed their luck as he huddled closer to the wall, making sure his feet did not scuffle against the ground, but he was grateful for their loud conversations that managed to mask the noise.
"I asked where the Chernos are!"
"I'm still looking."
"Good. I don't want a single one to get away. They will pay for what they did to my family."
The statement perked The Doctor's attention, obvious in the way that his brows furrowed and he huddled closer to the Reunion pair to get a better listen of what they had been saying. He sincerely doubted that there was any party that was without blame, wars rarely worked in a way that there was a clear divide between good and evil, but it was clear that Reunion were acting in the way that they thought was best; The Doctor could not condone the method but he could commiserate. The difference between Reunion and Rhodes Island was approach and access - he doubted that they had access to a mind like his own to try and find a peaceful resolution to the problem.
Then again … why was being different being seen as a problem?
The Doctor heard the two men shuffling and speaking quietly for a few moments longer before their voices trailed off, presumably to walk away, but then a small sound behind him caused the world to stop completely. Head was turned over his shoulder as he looked at Ansel, probably for the first time up close, and although The Doctor vaguely noted that he had been a boy all along the more damaging fact that he had a hand over his mouth to try and stifle the cough that erupted from his chest. Fear was obvious behind Ansel's eyes and although frustration was high there would be no use in berating the boy now.
"They found us…" he whispered, which was met by a sharp jab of Melantha's finger into his back.
"Shh…" Melantha urged even though it was obvious that she was getting ready to attack.
"Hey! Did you hear that?"
"It's coming from over there."
Not a heart dared to beat louder than it should have. Every fibre of their bodies were taut, ready to retaliate if found. Breathing was rapid but shallow, fear and adrenaline mixing and acting as a drug within their veins.
A cry tore through the silence, ragged and desperate, and The Doctor looked around to see that neither of them had been the source.
"Please! No!"
It was a voice of a woman, frightened and frantic, and all they could do was sit and listen as they could hear her feet shuffling against the ground and battling against the Reunion members that had found her.
"You think you could hide in an alley?"
There was laughter in the man's voice, wicked and twisted, and it caused anger to stir in The Doctor's stomach at the way he apparently enjoyed watching the woman's torment.
"Come on! Get out!"
"Please …. I'm-I'm sorry. Just … please leave my child alone."
Collectively their eyes widened as they realized it was not them they had found but a woman and their child - although relieved in a way there was also the shock and horror of what this would mean for the pair that had been captured. Were they truly willing to let innocent people be captured so that they would live? The Doctor was morally ambiguous to this; he could see both sides of why one might choose to run or fight. On the one hand, the work and the importance of Rhodes Island was much bigger than one person but what good would their work be if it didn't affect those that needed it the most?
Amiya was the first to speak, her expressions almost in a frenzy as she reached forward from her hunched position to tug on Melantha's coat sleeve. Melantha's purple gaze was slow to reach Amiya, almost as if knowing what the girl would have wanted and dreaded hearing it all the same.
"We have to do something! We can't just sit here," Amiya urged in a hushed whisper but Melantha seemed unconvinced.
"Amiya. We…"
"I'm aware of the risks. It's just that … we don't really have a choice to wait around until Reunion disbands."
Melantha had always given an air of someone who was not easily swayed, and the fact that she had yet to completely shut down Amiya's train of thought was evidence enough that even see was having a hard time with the moral implications of ignorance.
"We also don't know how long this is going on so the best idea would be to take out the enemy when we have the chance. Don't you agree?"
The Doctor couldn't help but smirk after Amiya had finished speaking; she knew who she was talking to which meant she spared some idealistic feeling of sentiment and exchanged it with the logic of a tactician.
He was impressed.
"Understood. We'll follow your lead."
Everyone, Amiya included, tried to hide their expressions of surprise that Melantha had been swayed, but they had little time to digest the implications before more hushed orders were being given to the group.
"Listen up! We have the upperhand. They don't know that we're here," she began, her words impactful even if they were barely audible over the scuffling and screams of the woman who remained with Reunion merciless grasp.
"Be clean. Be decisive. Doctor?" Melantha queried, her expression deadpanned save for the small arch of one of her brows.
"Gather your team. It's time for you to prove your worth."
The Doctor felt as if he should be offended at the implication that his worth had yet to be shown, of course a lot of what he provided to them was currently locked behind several layers of amnesiac trauma, but instead of finding a reason to scowl he straightened his spine and pushed his shoulders back - ready for the fight.
"You say it like it's hard."
Melantha laughed, or as close to a laugh as she seemed possible which meant the sound caught in the back of her throat.
"Doctor. We're counting on you."
He didn't find the burden of promise or responsibility to be daunting, or even something that he wished to cower from - ever since he had been awoken and rescued he had been itching to prove himself. The Doctor did worry as to why he was so excited to be put in command of an assault but he didn't dare study the implications … at least not right now. At his word, and with a confirming nod to his team, they all stood up from their hiding places and walked directly to the Reunion members who were standing over the fallen woman. Tears were streaming her face, her expression skewed in a look of wild mania and instant relief, and The Doctor was sure to step in front of the team as he stared down the Reunion members.
"Who do you think you are?!"
The masked man's words were filled with malice, his attention leaving the woman and her child as him and his companion turned their attention onto the members of Rhodes Island that had come to challenge them. A sideways glance from The Doctor spurned Amiya into action - her steps were silent as she moved around the standoff to kneel towards the woman. Amiya helped them to their feet and quickly shuffled them backwards and into the arms of awaiting Rhodes Island guards.
Once it was confirmed that they were safe The Doctor was spurred into action.
"Cardigan and Melantha in front. Focus the damage as best you can."
Cardigan and Melantha, although being the first time that they would have received orders from The Doctor, were dutiful in the way they nodded and slowly began to close the distance between them and the Reunion members - the frontline.
"Steward. Adnachiel. Find a long range position away from one another and focus your attacks, one man at a time. The faster we take them down the better chance Cardigan and Melantha have to hold out."
The Doctor turned to who was left and gave them a fierce nod.
"Amiya, you stay with Ansel. Protecting him is first priority. Ansel, focusing your healing on who I call. We're counting on you."
They all nodded and moved into position as The Doctor took a step back, far enough that he could observe the ebb and flow of battle - he couldn't recall meeting any members of his team before this moment but educated guesses meant he knew their purpose. Shield, sword, wands, and medic bag … he was a genius but that wasn't required to suggest who would be best suited where.
"Let's go!"
The Doctor called out and Rhodes Island was set in position … it was quiet for a moment before battle rang out and began to destroy the vacant streets.
Cardigan was first to act as she brought forward her shield and propped it down onto the ground, metal hitting the concrete floor with a thunderous boom as the unassuming girl displayed one true showing of force. Melantha did the same as her long katana was removed from its sheath - unlike Cardigan she carried a force about her that couldn't be denied. The two of them collided with the two Reunion members roughly and began to battle, melee focused and brutal, but it was exactly as The Doctor had wanted as he looked over to see where Steward and Adnachiel were lying in wait.
Adnachiel had his crossbow at the ready while Steward was twirling his wand, cocky and at the ready, and both of them waiting for The Doctor's go ahead; it was confirmed with a small tilt of his chin and no one seemed as happy about being released as Steward was.
They were both careful and meticulous, their attacks differing greatly from Cardigan and Melantha who seemed content to hack and slash as a course of a diversion - Adnachiel took aim and released an arrow into the shoulder of a Reunion member who had one arm raised and poised to strike down Cardigan.
"Cutting it close, Cardigan!" Adnachiel called out. His expression was light and playful despite the grim circumstances and maybe that kind of contrast was needed and welcome given the dire events.
Steward was the next to act, his wand was unassuming given its size, but The Doctor watched as it was charged up with his arm cocked back before it was thrust forward. A thin and direct stream of light shot from the tip, it's aim was true and it hit the other Reunion guard center mass and sent him back stumbling - Melantha was quick to take the advantage as her katana was pulled back before it's smooth blade was pushed into the man's chest with prejudice. One leg rose up so that the sole of her shoe pressed against the Reunion guards stomach, and with one kick he was sent falling towards the ground, releasing Melantha's katana, so that he could writhe and groan with both hands clutching at his stomach.
"Ansel! Help Cardigan," The Doctor ordered as she noticed the shield-wearing maiden begin to falter under the onslaught of being their first line of defense. There was only one more Reunion member left, or so they thought, but out of his peripheral vision he spotted someone trying to creep around from the back with their sights set on Ansel. The Doctor took a step back, mostly to ensure that he was not within the line of fire.
"Amiya! Behind you!"
Amiya was impressive in her movements, quick and exacting, containing far more power than one would ever assume from just looking at her - this was never made quite so clear as this moment. Her arms were extended forward quickly, a force of her Arts that caused power to stream from her hands. It was different than before, where her abilities had been precise and well placed; this time it streamed in two directions, one towards the Reunion member who tried to flank them and another towards the one that Cardigan was currently holding at bay. Both bolts hit their targets at the same time, forcing them on to their backs on the ground, and with that their conflict was coming to an end.
Adnachiel walked towards the stealthier one and nearly stood on his chest, crossbow aimed at his face, and Cardigan was doing the same with her shield almost crushing the man's abdomen. A stalemate, driven by mercy, and as Ansel began to tend to those that were wounded The Doctor noted that Amiya was not moving.
"Amiya? Amiya!"
He was quick to rush to her side, his hands hovering over her form as if trying to find a reason for her sudden paralysis, but Melantha was quick to speak after leaving Cardigan to watch over the detained Reunion member.
"Her power is great. Sometimes, when it's expelled quickly, it will leave her stunned. Just give her a few moments and she'll be fine."
The Doctor exhaled a sigh of relief that he didn't know he had been holding but he didn't leave her side - their gazes met, his filled with concern while hers almost peaceful, and without words he realized that all would be right in a moment. Taking a moment to assess the situation, he had to fight back the urge to smile over the victory; although it may not be their first one it was the first one he could recall. Somehow he had known what to do and how to react, his senses were keen and his skills as a tactician were sharp.
Had it been the proper time and place to gloat he would have given Melantha an 'I told you so'.
"Is everyone okay?"
The Doctor looked around and everyone nodding, some of which were being treated by Ansel who wanted to double check them all just in case, but the feeling of victory was short-lived as a group of Ursus soldiers walked up towards them. Heart skipped a beat without really knowing why - The Doctor wasn't aware how Ursus would treat them but he imagined that it wasn't going to be a positive experience.
"Hey! What are you doing out there?!"
The man that approached was dressed slightly different than the rest of them. His spine was straighter, he was leading the pack, and all of the soldiers deferred to him as he stood solid and stoic while waiting for an answer. The Doctor took a step to answer but was stopped by Amiya, her hand grasping onto his forearm to get his attention, and he stopped mid-step before looking down at her.
"Let me try. We can't afford another fight after the one we had."
His expression was blank as he looked down at her, trying not to let the volatility of pride get in the way of better sense, but Amiya took his silence for agreement and stepped forward towards the Ursus Captain. The Doctor thought about stopping her but he remained silent, a smile growing on his lips that she knew him well enough now, or always knew him well enough, to simply act rather than asking for permission.
He stayed where he was but was sure not to let his eyes leave Amiya.
She was slow to approach, her hands raised to frame her face to show that she was not a threat, but it did little to stop the Ursus guards from raising their weapons towards her.
"We don't mean any harm," she began, hoping that she would have a chance to explain her point, but something in the air caused her to still as her eyes began to dart around. The Doctor was alerted by the change in her stance as he looked down at his feet to notice smoke, or some sort of haze that was creeping into the street, and his gaze met Melantha's who held the same apprehension and curiosity in her face as he probably did.
"Melantha?" Amiya questioned as the smoke began to rise, creating a sort of film over the world that made it difficult to see more than a few feet in front of them.
"What is this?" The Captain, who inevitably noticed the smoke, took an accusatory tone with Amiya who quickly turned her attention back to him.
"We're fighting the same cause. We're fighting the same enemy. You have to believe us."
The Doctor doubted it would be that easy, regardless of how incessant and honest-seeming that Amiya presented herself to be, but before the Ursus Captain could say anything in rebuttal the atmosphere had turned electric … in the worst way possible.
There was confusion and apprehension in everyone's expression, their bodies were hunched and in alert - it was a moment of fight or flight that was prompted by something in the air.
The Doctor looked around, his demeanor more curious than it was outright driven to fear, and he turned around to look up towards a rise to see the faint outline of someone looking down upon them. The fog was still obscuring the face but the shadows remained, starting with one being before more emerged behind it, and it did not stop until a whole new army was staring them down. The wind picked up and the fog shifted, and perhaps it was smoke by their design, but it provided enough of a breeze so that The Doctor could see them better from a distance. They were Reunion, that much from clear from the way that they were dressed, but where most of them were nearly indistinguishable from the other in the way of dress and mannerism … there was one that was different.
The Reunion members had lost all personality in their suits, their faces were covered by haunting black dots where eyes should have been - it removed them of their humanity and it was eerie to try and stare into that abyss. There was one that was maskless, face obscured by a large hood, but with bright tendrils of red hair peeking out underneath. It was more harrowing that they were visible, that there was a person behind the atrocities that they have committed, and The Doctor felt himself take an instinctual step back even though they were high up on the ridge.
Ursus still had yet to discern with any confidence who Rhodes Island was, and if they were even attached to Reunion, and their guards were immediately up as weapons were drawn.
"What is this?!" The Captain's voice was loud, trying to assert himself over the chaos that was starting to brew, but Amiya had given all her attention to Melantha whose expression was, as usual, unreadable.
"Who is that?" Amiya questioned with her body only cheating towards Melantha - no one wanted their eyes to be taken off the mysterious individual.
"Whoever it is … they are not a normal thug."
To hear Melantha say that caused The Doctor's blood to chill, and it was in this response that he felt anger surge through his body. Everything was chaos and there was no end. Everyone was on their guards and had their backs up, no one trusted one another - the world that they lived in was so fragmented that he was beginning to see how impossible it would be to think that there would be any resolution to this. The hands on his side were clenched into fists as he looked at the red head, and even though they were far enough apart he could swear that he saw them smiling.
Breeze halted for a moment, as if nature itself stilled to allow the redhead to speak, and when there was enough quiet their voice echoed out through the streets below.
"Don't tell me you're running away?"
There was no indication who it was directed to, either Rhodes Island or Ursus, but both groups turned their full attention onto Reunion as they were standing side by side; it was almost like, for a moment, they were on the same side.
The redhead laughed, the sound macabre and sickening as it rang out and echoed around them, and the haze only seemed to thicken as a result which caused them all to tighten ranks.
Was this the leader of Reunion? If it was, why would they show themselves here … and now?
"Please … you have to go," Amiya finally spoke to the Ursus Captain.
The attacks on Chernobog had been well-coordinated and exact, even with their limited numbers compared to the Ursus Government, but their tactics were sound and it seemed that no one was ready for such a precisely executed attack. What was the reason for it now? It was clear that they had caused madness and violence to rain down on the streets, believing that their cause was just and their methods sound, but for them to come out in force with this redhead implied that there was something else afoot.
"How do we know that you aren't working with them, Rabbit?"
The Ursus Captain cast his accusatory tone towards Amiya, describing her solely from the appearance of her ears, and to her credit she did not flinch or find it to be any insult. The Doctor could only assume that this was because she had been living with this for quite some time, this was her life. When people looked at her they didn't see her bravery, her selflessness, or her kind and open heart - she was Infected and that was all they needed to know about her.
In this light, Reunion and Rhodes Island were all the same. It didn't matter how much good Rhodes Island did and how much bad Reunion committed - the only common denominator was that they were Infected and that was enough to prejudice anyone else who had been cursed with this infliction.
"Amiya…" The Doctor started as he took a forward step, his hand wrapping around the crook of her elbow to try and pull her away, but she was adamant. There was still a level of care within her, an altruism and open heart that he marveled at, mostly for the fact that it had yet to be hopelessly broken. He had only been awake for a day, every memory before that had been washed away in a sea of black, but that one day was enough to exhaust The Doctor - he had no idea how she managed.
"Please. You have to understand. We have a common enemy. We don't want to hurt anyone," she continued to urge, completely disregarding him beside her as she implored the Ursus Captain to use his senses. "We're nothing like Reunion. We just want to live our lives."
There were years of prejudice and hatred that required dismantling and no passionate speech from Amiya was going to solve it in a day - The Doctor wasn't sure why she even tried. The art of war was that often, the ones that were the victors, are the ones that had the most obedient forces. Ursus. Reunion. Rhodes Island. They all had their causes to fight for, they all had their reasons, but no one was willing to take the first steps towards peace … and that is why her words would have been lost.
The Ursus Captain inhaled a breath as he looked down at Amiya, almost as if he was peering into her soul to see if she was telling the truth, and without speaking he turned his attention back up to the ridge to see the Reunion members standing there in wait.
"Sir?"
One of the Ursus troops stepped up behind the Captain, clearly uncomfortable with the fact that he had not chosen to act or given an order, and that voice was enough to cause the Captain to look back down at Amiya with a stern look.
"If you are here to cause harm to anyone in Chernobog we will stop you. You shouldn't even be here," he began and all Amiya could do was nod.
"You have one chance to leave the city … but if we see you again we will make sure you don't get another chance to escape."
The Doctor could only nod at the words, realizing that the Captain had not given them a small mercy, but had finally realized that they were not the most pressing matter on the street that afternoon. He watched as Amiya nodded, apparently giving her thanks to the Captain before she turned back to face him with a rough exhale that she was holding in - apprehension was momentarily relieved before she opened her eyes wide as if to say … 'We need to go.'
"Rhodes Island!" Melantha called out, grabbing the attention of the team and the guards. "Fall in. We need to make it to the rendezvous point. Now!"
There was no ease in her voice, they all realized that the goodwill of the Ursus Government could be fleeting, and there were no more words exchanged as they continued down the street and away from where Reunion were beginning to march down the ridge to confront Ursus.
The Doctor was the last to follow along, single file, as he waited and watched as the redhead led their troops down the ridge. There was a sort of swagger to their walk that was both irritating and fascinating. Spine was straight, shoulders were back, chin was jutted out for the sole purpose of giving face to the way that their devious smirk seemed to unsettle anyone who saw it. He walked backwards slowly, just enough that he was following behind Amiya as close as he could while still hearing the exchange between Ursus and Reunion, but what he heard nearly caused him to stumble backwards.
"What are you waiting for?!"
The Ursus Captain had obviously reached the end of his rope, his patience and his anxiety reaching a peak that caused his voice to crack under the pressure.
The redhead inhaled slowly, their expression blank and tone calm, which made their next words so much worse.
"All Chernobogians must die."
